Arvid Paulson

Born in Helsingborg, Sweden, in 1888, Arvid Paulson moved to the United States in 1904. He became known as an author, translator, and actor, building a career that linked Scandinavian literature with American readers and theatergoers.

Paulson is especially associated with translations of August Strindberg and Henrik Ibsen. Archival collections at New York University and the New York Public Library describe his efforts to introduce Strindberg and Ibsen to a twentieth-century American audience through translations, criticism, correspondence, and theatrical work.

He also wrote and adapted books of his own, including work connected to Don Quixote, and remained closely identified with Strindberg throughout his life. A city lexicon from his hometown notes that he was not only a translator and writer but also a dedicated collector of Strindberg material, which fits the picture of someone deeply committed to sharing the literature he loved.